I dreamt of a world. Darkness stretched endlessly in all directions, and there was no familiar sun in sight. Instead, all I could see was an infinite expanse of stars, radiant yet unsettling. It was as if there was a mysterious force corrupting the tapestry of stars, absorbing any form of light they sought to offer.
I had no idea how long I had been in this strange world, yet, strangely enough, I felt at ease within. Eventually, however, a point of incandescent light emerged from the darkness. It took every bit of strength within me, but I managed to open my eyes. Only to be greeted by the same cold, suffocating blackness.
Frigid metal bars surrounded me, and beyond them — faces. Some cold, some grim, and some streaming with tears. Then there were those who looked utterly unbothered, as though they weren’t trapped in this hell alongside the rest of us. How great they must think themselves.
"Shit." I groaned through the agonizing pain as I slumped back against the cold metal bars. Exhaling slowly, I rubbed my temples, the immense heat radiating from my body drawing my attention. A frown settled on my face.
"Uh?"
Somehow, I realized I had been completely healed. At least, as far as I could tell. My frown deepened as I noticed there wasn’t even a scab left behind. Instead, all I could feel was raw, blinding pain, as though my flesh were being torn apart from within.
For a while, I could do nothing but lie there in confusion, my body wracked with agony. Then, slowly, I began to understand. The pain wasn’t coming from an injury, but was instead the result of my body healing far faster than it should. The realization left me stunned.
The only plausible explanation I could think of was that the Romans had given me something... but what? And why? Worse still...
"Does it have any side effects?"
Troubled and unsettled, I tried to peer into my Soul Sea, hoping to find some clues.
"You need not worry about that." I didn’t need to look to know who it was. I turned to face the young Terrisman and asked, "And why’s that?"
He chuckled, then shook his head. "If the Romans want us dead, they have far better ways to get it done. And trust me — they do."
His words, as always, brought a scowl to my face.
The young Terrisman smiled and continued, paying no heed to my discomfort.
"Besides, what you have been given is given to everyone else. Even the Romans. If only those of lower nobility."
I frowned, still dubious. Besides, why should I even believe the words of a stranger? A strange and eerie one, no less.
"And what might the name of this pill be?" If I knew the pill’s name, I was certain I’d be able to recall its properties and effects. Of that, I had little doubt.
"A distrustful fellow are we," the young Terrisman said with a smirk, leaning against his pit. "I like that. It keeps one alive."
I offered no response.
He glanced at me and continued. "You might have heard of it anyway. The Romans call it Solum Tabella."
"Earth tablet?" I inquired with a frown.
He nodded. "Funny enough, the locals here call it Dust Bute. Since, you know, it saves you from eating dust."
My brows furrowed in thought. ’Solitab — the name it was known by in Gracian Empire — was a scientifically engineered low-tier healing pill. If memory served me right, it reduced excessive inflammation while supplying the body with tissue-building nutrients such as amino acids, zinc, and copper. Instead of cutting edge-science, it was a pill that simply ensured the body had everything it needed to accelerate its natural recovery.’
I nodded, finally affirming the Terrisman’s words. After all, even the slightest deviation in its manufacture would diminish its effectiveness. Besides... I raised my head to speak, when—
Clang—!
A sudden metallic sound shattered the silence.
’What the hell was that?!’ My body tensed at the sudden sound, my heart pounding in my chest.
Azrael laughed.
"Calm down will you," he said. "That was simply the meal bell. Though most of the Awakened here call it the Butcher’s Call. A fitting name you see."
My eyes narrowed. "Meals aren’t served to our respective cages here?"
"Not exactly." Azrael shook his head. "That wouldn’t suit the pits’ reputation, now would it? Besides, let’s just say the Romans have quite the fondness for the smell of blood and whatever bloody fight comes along with it."
A few Roman soldiers stepped into the pit, some familiar, others unfamiliar. The clang of iron gates opening rang out continuously, and within a few tense minutes, we were all released, slowly herded out of the pit.
Step, Step.
Our footsteps echoed through the pit as we slowly approached the Butcher’s Room — I heard an Awakened whisper. The next moment, though, I couldn’t help but wonder, a grim expression settling on my face.
Why had no rebellion occurred? Why hadn’t the slaves tried to fight their way out of the pits? But then, I gave it a second thought and realized just how futile such an attempt was. Let alone the fully awakened Roman soldiers patrolling every corner of the vast pits — even if you managed to escape, what then? The Racpurnia city, much less the whole Roman Empire, was immensely vast. And with no mobile vehicles — carriages used by the Nermans, donkeys or horses used by the Ghauls, or even advanced mobile cars used by the Terris men — where was one going to head for? And... how? Those were just the least of the problems that came with escaping.
That was assuming you weren’t even killed before stepping out of the pits.
Exhaling in exasperation, I reached for my temples and rubbed them. A while later, we arrived at the so-called Butcher’s Room. Curious as to how it had earned such a name, I considered asking the young Terrisman. But then, suddenly, and without warning—
"...!"
Every hair on the back of my neck stood on end.
Clench~!
My fingers instinctively curled into fists.
Thump. Thump.
The slow, rhythmic sound of countless heartbeats echoed through the darkness. Then, in the next instant, I felt a cold, murderous intent lock onto me, followed by a vast surge of bloodlust that seemed capable of drowning me in its depths.
"Shit!" I cursed under my breath, my breath caught in my throat as tension crept in.
It seemed like an all-out war among the gladiators was about to break out.
Just as the tension reached its peak, however, a cold voice resounded through the room.
"Get in line, fuckers!" the voice bellowed, the crack of a whip splitting the air. "You fuckers are free to go all out — outside — and fight to the death in the colosseum. But not a single fight will take place in this room!"
The voice paused, letting the tension sink in.
"Not unless you lot are willing to fight to the death!"